CANTERBURY’S FORESTS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29245, 1 July 1960, Page 12

CANTERBURY’S FORESTS

Assurance On Survey

(From Our Parliamentary Reporter! WELLINGTON, June 30. An undertaking that the survey of exotic timber resources in Canterbury would be completed as soon as possible was given by the Minister of Forests (Sir Eruera Tirikatene) in the House of Representatives tonight During his speech in the Ad-dress-in-Reply debate, he referred to comments by Mr W H. Gillespie (Opposition, Hurunui), which, he said, suggested that the Government was not interested in the welfare of Canterbury. Mr Gillespie had quoted an extract from a letter sent to him by the speaker.

Sir Eruera Tirlkaten? said that he was most concerned about the provision of industry in the South Island. He had told Mr Gillespie that he was interested in the development of timber resources on the West Coast, as an area which had serious industrial problems. Thus the West Coast had first preference for the establishment of new industries.

It was hoped that the West Coast would be the place for the setting up of a structural fibre board industry. If for some reason it was impracticable to do this, then Canterbury seemed to be the next choice.

Sir Eruera Tirikatene said that he was also most concerned about the future of Eyrewell and Balmoral State forests. The question of co~rect utilisation was serious